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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2016; 74(04): 280-286
DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20160019
ARTICLE

Muscular weakness represents the main limiting factor of walk, functional independence and quality of life of myelopathy patients associated to HTLV-1

Fraqueza muscular representa o principal fator limitante da marcha, independência funcional e qualidade de vida de pacientes com mielopatia associada ao HTLV-1
Renata Costa Caiafa
1   Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Pós-Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias,Rio de JaneiroRJ,Brazil;
,
Marco Orsini
2   Centro Universitário Augusto Motta, Pós-Graduação em Ciências de Reabilitação,Rio de JaneiroRJ,Brazil;
,
Lilian R. Felicio
3   Universidade Federal de Uberlândia,Faculdade de Fisioterapia,UberlandiaMG,Brazil;
,
Marzia Puccioni-Sohler
1   Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Pós-Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias,Rio de JaneiroRJ,Brazil;
4   Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro,Hospital Universitário Gaffree & Guinle, Pós-Graduação em HIV/AIDS e Hepatite Viral,Rio de JaneiroRJ,Brazil.
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ABSTRACT

HTLV-1-associated myelopathy is a progressive disabling disease associated with gait abnormalities.

Objective To identify and quantify the main muscles affected by weakness and spasticity, their impact on gait, functional capacity and on quality of life of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy patients.

Method We evaluated lower limbs muscular strength according to the Medical Research Council scale, spasticity according to the modified Ashworth scale, daily activities according to the Barthel Index and quality of life according to the Short-Form Health Survey-36 of 26 HTLV-1-associated myelopathy patients.

Results The muscles most affected by weakness included the dorsal flexors and knee flexors. Spasticity predominated in the hip adductor muscles and in plantar flexors. Assistance for locomotion, minimal dependence in daily activities, limitations in functional capacity and physical aspects were the most common findings.

Conclusion The impairment of gait, functional dependence and quality of life were predominantly a consequence of intense muscle weakness in HTLV-1-associated myelopathy patients.

RESUMO

Mielopatia associada ao HTLV-1 é uma doença inflamatória, incapacitante e progressiva que acomete o sistema nervoso central.

Objetivo Identificar e quantificar os principais músculos comprometidos pela fraqueza e espasticidade, o impacto na capacidade funcional e na qualidade de vida dos pacientes com mielopatia associada ao HTLV-1.

Método Força muscular (Medical Research Council),espasticidade (escala Ashworth modificada), atividades de vida diária (Índice de Barthel) e qualidade de vida (Sh ort-Form Health Surv ey-36)foram avaliados em 26 pacientes.

Resultados Os principais músculos comprometidos pela fraqueza incluíram os flexores dorsais e flexores do joelho. A espasticidade predominou nos músculos adutores do quadril e nos flexores plantares. Assistência para locomoção, dependência mínima nas atividades diárias, limitações na capacidade funcional e os aspectos físicos representaram os achados mais frequentes.

Conclusão Dificuldade de deambulação, dependência funcional e prejuízo na qualidade de vida foram as principais consequências da intensa fraqueza muscular nos pacientes com mielopatia associada ao HTLV-1.

HAM/TSP - functional ability - gait - quality of life
HAM/TSP - avaliação funcional - marcha - qualidade de vida

Support:

This work was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) and a Msc fellowship from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) to R.C.C.




Publication History

Received: 21 March 2015

Accepted: 30 November 2015

Article published online:
06 September 2023

© 2023. Academia Brasileira de Neurologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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